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“The move Steve Yzerman has made will change that franchise around in a huge, huge positive way. He’s just a perfect fit. This is a match made in heaven.” – Jacques Demers

“He is a very methodical teacher, hard-nosed, fair and a good communicator. When I was doing the Canadiens games on TV, I ran into a lot of the players who were coached by Boucher in Hamilton that were brought up - P.K. Subban and Mathieu Darche, Max Pacioretty, Ben Maxwell - and they had nothing but great, great things to say about this young coach.” – Jacques Demers

“What I was impressed with was not only his knowledge - he has a good, strong, understanding of the game, the technical side of it - but more importantly he has a teaching background and can communicate with people.” – Pat Quinn

“He has experience. He knows what winning’s about. He’s got all the tools that good coaches have, and he knows how to use them.” – Jacques Demers

“This is as perfect a fit as you get. I know maybe some people wanted a bigger name, someone older, but this is the right way, go with the young guy, the guy with the big future.” – Pat Quinn

“He’s a no-nonsense coach, but a fair one. The guys trust this guy. They don't all like him, but they trust him and they respect him. That's all you can ask for.” – Jacques Demers

“He has good talent on individual working with players hockey-wise, knows lot of tactics and strategies. But with all this, he is a hard worker and he will put in all the time and more. He is intense as a coach and as a person. Players who want to get better, who want to learn, he will be there with them. If not, they will have it tough.” – Doris Labonte

“One last thought before I crash on the couch at home: I believe Guy Boucher will get the best out of Vinny Lecavalier. The old Vinny will return.” – Pierre LeBrun

“Why did Guy Boucher choose the Lightning? Hint: It's not just the sun and sand. Word is the biggest reason was time, as in he's got more of it in Tampa. When Steve Yzerman took over, he preached patience. “It's going to take some time” was his mantra, repeating it often and to everyone. It's the right path for that organization, attempting to recover from Brian Lawton's Reign of Error. Clearly, Jeff Vinik understands Yzerman's path is the right one.” - Elliotte Friedman, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reporter

“Steve Yzerman, first-year general manager, has turned the keys to the locker room over to Guy Boucher, first-year AHL coach. Replace that first name with 'Brian Lawton' or 'Len Barrie,' and what's the reaction? Don't tell us there's no Yzerman Effect.” -hed patience. “It's going to take some time” was his mantra, repeating it often and to everyone. It's the right path for that organization, attempting to recover from Brian Lawton's Reign of Error. Clearly, Jeff Vinik understands Yzerman's path is the right one.” - Greg Wyshynski, Yahoo Sports hockey blogger

“Boucher's game system and methods of communication have piqued the curiosity of almost all decision makers in the world of hockey in the past two years. Rarely have we felt such a buzz around the appointment of a young coach.” -hed patience. “It's going to take some time” was his mantra, repeating it often and to everyone. It's the right path for that organization, attempting to recover from Brian Lawton's Reign of Error. Clearly, Jeff Vinik understands Yzerman's path is the right one.” - Rue Frontenac, Montreal news website

“Words you'll hear to describe Boucher's system include “urgency” and “up-tempo.” Boucher also employs a risky 1-3-1 forecheck that requires mobile, puck-moving defensemen who can join the attack while also being capable of getting back quickly to cover up. Whether or not Boucher's system can be successful in the NHL is up for debate but the fact some team is willing to give it a try is testament to how far the game’s progressed since the trap era.” -hed patience. “It's going to take some time” was his mantra, repeating it often and to everyone. It's the right path for that organization, attempting to recover from Brian Lawton's Reign of Error. Clearly, Jeff Vinik understands Yzerman's path is the right one.” - Mike Halford and Jason Brough, The Vancouver Province

“This Boucher hiring says plenty about Yzerman. Anybody who thought he would look around and hire a member of the old boys fraternity doesn't understand Yzerman. He will be thorough; he will be cutting edge. Obviously, Yzerman hit the ground running. It didn't take him long to identify Boucher as the best of the candidates and woo him to Tampa Bay.” – Kevin Allen, USA Today

“Yzerman has a presence about him. People want to sign up for his program because they can sense he's a winner. The Boucher hiring is just one of several steps Yzerman will take to make this franchise more competitive. Ultimately, he will build through the draft, but I have a hunch that this summer Yzerman will make at least one meaningful player acquisition that will be just as impressive. Yzerman is going to be a quality recruiter.” –Kevin Allen, USA Today

“I hear he's the type of coach who really thinks outside the box, is a great communicator with all of his players and is an intense worker. That's a great recipe for success. I'm real excited.” – Vincent Lecavalier